San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-11
. MONDAY. JULY II, 1887.
RANDOLPH REVIEWED,

A writer in yesterdays Express see ms
very anxious to defend the father OF
Maria HaIpin's boy" from what he
characteriZes as the "sneers OF the
LIGHT" "RsndOlph," for so this writer
signs himself, seems very much exer-
cised over the LIGHTS charge, that
Cieveland's answer to Mayor Francis, OF
st. Louis, was not open. and that after
a delay Of more than four months such
an answer WAS a mere subterfuge, and
altogether too thin. This opinion the
LIGHT maintains, despite the assertion
OF Randolph, that il lis supremely silly
and unjust" A great show Of honesty
is made by this writer, aud anyone not
posted concerning the history OF this
G. A. K. invitation would suppose that
Cleveland accepted the invitation ten
dered him by the g. a. X. committee.
and that this acceptance WAS sent to the
committee within a reasonable time;
that nothing was definitely determined
upon by way of such invitation
until during the international drill, open
ing May 18th, and that the Objeo-
tions on the part OF the G. A. X. were
NOS developed until the order OF the
president concerning the return of the
rebel flags was promulgated; all of
which is very far from the truth. The
facts rs existing are-the local execu-
tive committee OF the G. A. r., acting
In concert with citizens OF st. Louis, on
the 10th Of last February, invited Presi-
dent Cleveland to attend the grand
army reunion in September. No an
swer was returned TO this invitation.
Some weeks subsequently, an invita-
ton, emanating from the citizens OF st.
Louis, was forwarded to Mr..
Cleveland, inviting him to attend
the fair to be held in
st. Louis at the same time
that the Grand Army encampment was
to be held. This invitation President
Cleveland accepted. This invitation, it
may be in place to note, was numerOusly
signed by democratic politicians. The
Vs "a h. pObNs hhAul any
at this marked insult put upon them by
the head of the Nation. whose very ex-
istence was bought by the blood Of the
Grand Army. Of this insult no official
notice was taken by the q. A. r.,
though some posts seemed inclined to
consider the situation such rs to warrant
their remaining at home. In the mean
time the battle flag order" was pro
mulgated and the music opened all
slong the line. The G.. A. r. posts hav-
ing expressed their sentiments in the
matter the offensive order was hastily
1t now appearing that
many of the posts would not attend the
encampment, If Cleveland persisted in
being present, the letter Of declinatiOn
is written; nearly twenty-six weeks af-
ter the invitation issued. 1t is not re-
vocation of former letter of acceptance
in any way. The letter OF acceptance
was written to the st. Louis business
committee and the politicians. This
letter of declination is written to the
local Grand Army committee, and In ii
the onus of the refusal is laid upon the
G. A. X. attitude towards the president.
The refusal Of the president to answer
to G. A. Il. invitation was a marked
slight : the acceptance of the invitation
5f the city, under the shadow of that
,slight, was direct insult; the promulga-
'tion of the battle flag order, by man who
represented himself in the army by the
paid services Of an Erie county convict,
was an insult not only to the @. A.
R., but to the loyal sentiment of
the nation. From another man 1t
might not be so accepted but, from a
northern copperhead, man VIGOROUSLY
out OF sympathy with the union senti-
ment ofthe country from 1S6l-65, man
who has made his position always tell
against the families Of loyal soldiers,
man whe had deliberately insulted the
g. A. r. and treated their courtesy with
contemplation such man, the battle
flag order could not miss Of arrOusing
every feeling Of patriotic ardOr in the
hearts Of the members Of the G. A. r.
and calling forth the most emphatic
rOtests. In view OF all the oirOum